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Pet Ownership, A Long Term Commitment
As a loyal friend and guardian to your pets, you have certain
responsibilities to provide food, shelter, and veterinary care to
ensure your birds, dogs, cats, and all other pet's health and safety. As some pets such as dogs are
"man's best friend," so are we our "pet's best friend," and we
should be willing to attend to their needs before our own. Pet
ownership is a long-term commitment resulting in mutually rewarding
companionships for both people and pets.
Getting Acquainted
Whether you purchase a pedigreed pet from a reputable breeder, or
rescue one from the animal shelter; whether you find it in your
local paper or through a search in Yahoo, it will be totally dependent on
you for its care and well-being. It is important to build mutual
trust and loyalty from the start, by spending as much time together,
and training it to be responsive and obedient. The local humane
society or pet club may offer obedience classes. A well-behaved pet
will ensure a good relationship with your neighbors, and will be a
joy to own.
Provide a warm, dry place for your pet to live.
Never leave two or more pets together unattended unless you have
observed them frequently and are sure they are compatible. Be sure
to take larger pets such as dogs or potbelly pigs outside often (at
least three times a day) to urinate and defecate to avoid accidents,
and always provide clean, fresh water. Pets quickly adapt to a
routine, and come to expect the same activities on a daily basis.
Unless you plan to raise babies, it is important to spay (removal
of ovaries and uterus) or neuter (removal of testicles) your pet.
This will prevent objectionable behavior, such as roaming and
fighting, and help your pet enjoy a longer, healthier life. In
addition, spaying of females lowers the risk of mammary cancer.
Purchase a license if your city or town requires it, and attach
it to the pet's collar, along with an identification tag containing
your name and address in order to expedite finding a lost pet.
Microchip I.D.'s are now available from your veterinarian.
It is a good idea to name a caretaker for your four-legged
friend, in case of your death, or hospitalization, just as you would
for a child.
* Avid PETtrac can be found at the Avid PETtrac Microchip site. We highly recommend serious pet owners take advantage of this
key Pet ID Tag.
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